New research shows that the season you are born has a significant impact on your risk of developing mood disorders. People born at certain times of year may have a greater chance of developing certain types of affective temperaments, which in turn can lead to mood disorders (affective disorders). This work is being presented at the European College of CNP Congress in Berlin.
Seasons of birth have traditionally been associated with certain personality traits, such as novelty seeking, and various folklore justifications, such as astrology, have sought to explain these associations. Now a group of researchers from Budapest, Hungary, are presenting a study which links birth season with temperament.
According to lead researcher, Assistant Professor Xenia Gonda, "Biochemical studies have shown that the season in which you are born has an influence on certain monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, which is detectable even in adult life. This led us to believe that birth season may have a longer-lasting effect. Our work looked at over 400 subjects and matched their birth season to personality types in later life. Basically, it seems that when you are born may increase or decrease your chance of developing certain mood disorders."
"We can't yet say anything about the mechanisms involved. What we are now looking at is to see if there are genetic markers which are related to season of birth and mood disorder."
The group found the following statistically significant trends:
- Cyclothymic temperament (characterized by rapid, frequent swings between sad and cheerful moods), is significantly higher in those born in the summer, in comparison with those born in the winter.
- Hyperthymic temperament -- a tendency to be excessively positive -- were significantly higher in those born in spring and summer.
- Those born in the winter were significantly less prone to irritable temperament than those born at other times of the year.
- Those born in autumn show a significantly lower tendency to depressive temperament than those born in winter.
Click link to read the article on Science Daily .
I found it amazing that there are so many factors apart from the genes we inherit that contribute to what shapes us into adults. I always knew about zodiac signs and how it is thought that your personality is based off of the month you are born in, and this article really highlights that popular belief with this study shown.
I have never believed in astrology or horoscopes but the plain evidence from this article makes it more credible. I do question the science behind it though. How can a person's birth season affect his/her temperament? It is definitely something worth looking into and experimenting with.
ReplyDeleteWow, although I don't believe in horoscopes, i still check it for fun. In a way it is kind of scary knowing what your future holds in front of you. I wouldn't want to know. Astrology seems so magical, its as if your connecting with the spirits! As i was born in winter, I believe that i do have rapid, frequent mood swings between sad and cheerful moods. However, that may just be a coincidence. I hope they advance this research, i'll defiantly keep an eye on this :)
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting how the season a person is born in can increase or decrease that person's chance of developing certain mood disorders. Its amazing how so many things apart of genes can have a major affect on a person's personality and temperament. This is definitely something that should be further researched.
ReplyDeletei always find it so fun to check my horoscope, just to see what they have written for my birthday/birth month. But i never realized there was some actual scientific research contributing to some aspects of astrology and how they can infer the personality you have just by your birth season. This is so interesting great job! :)
ReplyDeleteIts really fascinating how researchers at Budapest, Hungary were able to find a scientific reasoning behind the characteristics of people born in different seasons. This changes the way I look at the horoscope and astrological reasoning, because now they have found a scientific explanation for it.
ReplyDeleteThis article really gets you thinking about you and all your friends and family. I myself was born in and autumn month, november, and see that I actually am never really that depressed. However I do see a problem with this study. One, the sample size. Is 400 people really enough to determine a whole race of humans? Two, the way scientist went about collecting this qualitative data. How did the scientists quantify temperament?
ReplyDeleteI found this article really fascinating because most people blame disorders and such on GMOs and stuff but don't really consider much simpler, natural factors. I do agree that the study could be tweaked a bit but it was interesting to see if my season matched with my mood! ^.^
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